Why it is not good to cut the rule to participate in sports competitions

Cutting the rule is becoming a very common practice among adolescents who practice certain types of sports. But, is it a wise action to reduce the times of your menstrual cycle? In this article we explain it to you.

The menstrual cycle and menstruation

The menstrual cycle is the process in which the woman’s uterus prepares to host the embryo in a possible pregnancy in the coming months. This preparation, in addition to modifying the uterus, encourages a series of physiological changes.

We speak of menstruation on the day on which the first vaginal bleeding or hemorrhage occurs, which is why the lining of the uterus that has been formed to house the new host is detached if necessary.

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Signs and symptoms of the period

Without a doubt, the main sign that menstruation has arrived is bleeding through the vagina. But this bleeding can be accompanied by other symptoms that can appear at the same time as the bleeding or even in previous days.

These other symptoms include:

  • Pelvic cramps or abdominal pain.
  • Discomfort or pain in the lower back, in the area of the kidneys.
  • The chest tends to swell and, generally, there is pain or discomfort in the breasts.
  • Food cravings They tend to have greater cravings for sweet-tasting foods and sudden cravings may appear.
  • Changes in mood and irritability.
  • Headache.
  • Fatigue.

Phases of the menstrual cycle

In the menstrual cycle of women, several phases can be differentiated: follicular , ovulation and luteal .

Follicular phase

It starts on the first day of your period and continues until ovulation arrives, a total of about 1 to 3 days.

During this phase, the pituitary gland releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) . It is characterized by hormonal fluctuation.

The physical activity that is recommended in this stage is high intensity exercise in short periods of time such as (weights, changes of pace, HIIT …)

Ovulation phase

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is released in response to increased levels of follicular phase estrogen. A characteristic sign of this phase is that there is a slight increase in body temperature. It occurs around day 14 of your menstrual cycle.

At the beginning of this phase, maximum performance should be maintained, but as progesterone begins to rise in the body, it must be taken into account that the muscles will not have adequate resistance to perform Strength exercises because there is a greater probability of injury. Sports performance will be lower and exercise practice at this stage should be much lighter.

Luteal phase

It is in this phase that an increase in progesterone and a slight increase in estrogen levels can be observed, followed by a fall in both hormones and the restart of the cycle (except pregnancy).

It is in the luteal phase that we experience those famous PMS symptoms , such as bloating, headaches, weight changes, food cravings, and trouble sleeping. This phase lasts from 11 to 17 days.

In this phase, strength, endurance and speed training can be added.

Can the periods of the menstrual cycle be modified?

There are women who want to speed up the times of their menstrual cycle for different reasons, such as a sporting event or a trip.

Although there are no magic ways to stop the menstrual cycle, it is true that some strategies can help you speed up the speed with which the menstrual flow leaves the uterus, being able to shorten the time for bleeding to disappear.

Menstruación

Strategies for cutting the rule

The idea and healthier for your body is to respect the times of each process, but if you need to speed up and cut the rule you can try:

Having an orgasm

When you reach the climax of orgasm during sexual intercourse or alone, stimulation of the area can cause your uterus to contract, causing vaginal bleeding to increase.

Although there is no scientific evidence to support this technique one hundred percent , there are also no side effects.

Working out

Exercising makes your body move and that movement of the muscles can also help the blood from the uterus to be expelled from the body and this helps to limit the time that the cycle lasts to a certain point.

Well-planned exercise can also help some women reduce the perception of menstrual cramps.

Avoid using tampons

Tampons absorb menstrual flow, but they can also block menstrual flow from the vagina, which can extend the duration of bleeding.

Using accessories such as the cup will help to eliminate blood more quickly, at the same time that it will improve your health by avoiding endocrine disruptors in tampons and you will help take care of the environment because it is much more sustainable.

Setting dates with birth control pills

Using birth control pills will not help you to cut your period, but you will know exactly when the bleeding will come , so you will have your menstruation cycles regulated and controlled at all times.

Doing this alters the number of hormones in the body, which can also shorten the duration of bleeding, although there is no guarantee that this will happen.

We advise you that this is one of the last strategies, since birth control pills are often accompanied by numerous side effects. Before using it, you should ask for a medical opinion and a well-qualified health professional who can guide or prescribe this strategy.

Going to the gynecologist

The best and safest way to shorten the times of your menstrual period or skip menstruation is to consult with your trusted gynecologist, so that it is he or she who marks a guide for you and can provide you with an adequate accompaniment , in such a way that this strategy is a safe process.

Is it healthy and safe to shorten the periods of the menstrual cycle?

Considering the National Women’s Health Network, it can be concluded by stating that, to date, there is no evidence that raises danger when the rhythms of menstrual cycles are accelerated in a specific manner .

However, if we could talk about some risks if we do this practice for a long time or for many years. According to the American Cancer Society, cutting your period regularly could increase the risk of prevalence of certain types of cancer , so if your goal is to do this on a regular basis, you should seek the opinion of a professional.

Conclusions

Before making a decision like cutting your period or reducing your menstrual cycle, a doctor needs to give the go-ahead . There are many types of birth control pills, depending on what you are looking for at each moment, as well as different methods that can be adapted to the needs and context of each person.

References

  • Take careplus. (September 30, 2015). Menstrual cycle. Cuidateplus.marca.com https://cuidateplus.marca.com/reproduccion/fertilidad/dictionary/ciclo-menstrual.html
  • Stevie Lyn Smith, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN. (April 24, 2021). Optimizing Training Around Your Menstrual Cycle. blog.insidetracker.com https://blog.insidetracker.com/training-around-menstrual-cycle
  • Nall, Rachel. (September 20, 2019). How to stop or speed up the menstrual cycle. medicalnewstoday.com https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/es/326409
  • Sensualintim. (March 2021). Can I stop or cut my periods? sensualintim.com https://sensualintim.com/puedo-detener-or-parar-mi-menstruacion/#Que_pasa_cuando_paro_la_menstruacion
  • Physiodemujer. MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND EXERCISE. fisiodemujer.com https://www.fisiofitmujer.com/ciclo-menstrual-y-exercicio/
  • Communications Office. (February 6, 2020). What are the symptoms of menstruation? espanol.nichd.nih.gov https://espanol.nichd.nih.gov/salud/temas/menstruation/informacion/sintomas